ENVIRON 317 Conservation Bio - Midterm Exam

conservation biology

applied science of maintaining the earth's biological diversity, multidisciplinary

biodiversity

variety of genes, species, and ecosystems in a given place or the world

conservation

maintaining in a world of use

preservation

completely leaving an ecosystem alone

basic biology

identify a problem of interest, then select methods of investigation

con biology

problems chosen for us, must select methods of response and identify what we need to know to select those methods

value laden

science, questions, and data are influences by the values of the discipline

crisis discipline

discipline driven by urgency

biological species concept

reproductively isolated

ecological species concept

set of organisms adapted to a particular set of resources

morphological species concept

physical characteristics categorize species

phylogenetic species concept

smallest diagnosable cluster of individual organisms within which there is a parental pattern of ancestry and descent, need molecular data

genealogical species concept

genetics and genealogical relationship throughout ancestry

species

interbreeding natural populations that are reproductively isolates from others

alpha diversity

diversity in one habitat type

gamma diversity

diversity in large areas (continent)

beta diversity

rate of change of species across different habitats, b=g/a

intermediate disturbance hypothesis

localized disturbances promote coexistence of species with different competitive and dispersal abilities

productivity (stability) hypothesis

high and constant year-round energy supply results in more individuals, favors more specialization

species interactions

competition and predation

competition

capable of eliminating species, promotes specialization

predation

can offset competition and favor coexistence at intermediate levels

environmental stability and constancy

allows greater specialization because organisms invest less in physiological adaptation

invasibility

ability of exotic species to become established

stability

individual species less stable

ecosystem function

structural components of an ecosystem

ecosystem services

benefits people gain from an ecosystem

species-area relationship

how many species an area can support, larger island has more resources and space

intrinsic value

species worthwhile in its own right as an end in itself

utilitarian value

goods, services, information, inspiration

deliberate introductions

wide variety of justifications related to utilitarian values

inadvertent introductions

stow-aways and human commensals that get moves as part of global commerce

natural colonization by human activities

creating a new habitat for the species to colonize

invasive species

non-native species that causes harm ecologically or economically